Oh my goodness, what a busy Spring!  I can not believe how fast the last two months have gone by...We finished our gerbil unit at the end of April and spent May studying May Day and the history of New Westminster. I am impressed with how much the students have learned about their community.

 S T A F F    L U N C H                                    

I would like to thank our wonderful parents for the delicious lunch.  What an amazing feast!  It took us two days to finish and it was worth every calorie.  It was very kind of you to take time from your busy lives to spoil us.

 B O O K   F A I R                                       

We are hosting our second Scholastic Book Fair from June 5 to June 7 in the Community Room. This is a great fund raiser for the Libary. You are invited to come by and have a look! 

Tuesday, June 5    

8:30 am - 10:00 am & 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Wednesday, June 6  

8:30 am – 10:00 am & 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Thursday, June 7   

8:30 am – 10:00 am & 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Tuesday, June 5 is Surf's Up, McBride Day.  Students are encouraged to wear their beachiest, Hawaiian, tacky tourist outfits to launch the Aloha Book Fair.

 J U N E                                                                            

All library books are due back June 7.  This gives us a chance to collect all of the year's overdues and go through the stacks for any missing books. If you are unable to find your child's books, please pay for them.  If these books turn up, please return them to the library for a refund.

 M A Y    D A Y                                                                                                       

I am impressed with how much our students have learned about their city and its culture this month. Each grade focused on a particular aspect of May Day and its connection to New Westminster history and the curriculum.

The tradition of May Day which began in 1870, serves to remind us of the value of our community, the value of our past and the value of our children. It is a time to gather together to celebrate all that is good in life and to acknowledge all that we have accomplished and endured.

May Day is a unique opportunity for all the students of NewWestminster to share a common purpose and experience and to take their place in history. Our students have such a sense of pride when they work together with their classmates to perfect the dance steps and perform in front of the crowds at Queen's Park Stadium. Many thanks to our teachers who do such a wonderful job teaching the dances!

Our district website now has a May Day section. Please check it out! http://district.sd40.bc.ca/may-day/about

Congratulations to Division Three who won a pizza lunch from Pizza Hut in the May Day Free Lunch Contest!

 A U T H O R S '    V I S I T                                                                                  

In April, Richard McBride was fortunate to be choosen by the BC Book Prizes to receive two authors' visits. On Thursday, May 3, we two BC authors visit our school.  The Kindergatens and grade ones were entertained by Robert Heidbreder, author of "Shake Awakes". A former kindergarten teacher, Bob had the kids up and dancing around.   Caitlyn Vernon, author of "Nowhere Else on Earth: Standing Tall for the Great Bear Rainforest," gave an amazing slideshow as she discussed her book with the grade fours and fives in the library. 

Caitlyn mentioned a story about a bear walking into a Subway in Kitimat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBiboVzi2VI as an example of the effects of human encroachment on animal habitat.  She also taught us that barnacles feed with their feet!

Through the Adopt-a-Library Programme, Richard McBride Elementary was adopted by Thrifty Foods.   Thrifty Foods donated $500 worth of 2012 BC Book Prize finalist books to our library. Many thanks to the manager Ray Mattison for the generous donation!